Nano/microstructure decorated thin film composite poly (arylene sulfide sulfone) membrane constructed by induced fouling in organic solvent ultrafiltration

Abstract

In this study, novel thin film composite membranes with nano/macrostructure decorated surface were fabricated by deposition of poly (arylene sulfide sulfone) (PASS) polymer chains on oxidized poly (arylene sulfide sulfone) (O-PASS) support membrane during organic solvent ultrafiltration. Interestingly, the obtained membranes exhibited a rough surface structure composed of ordered arranged polymeric nodules with size ranging from nanoscale (100 nm) to macroscale (5 μm). Additionally, these membranes showed an improved, ultrahigh rejection of direct red 23, reactive blue 2, demonstrating their potential application for the reuse of dyes in wastewater. Furthermore, this novel synthesis approach of thin film composite membranes has great advantages in incorporating nanoparticles because of the facile process, the low consumption of nanoparticles and the high content of nanoparticles in the thin layer. During the whole thin layer synthesis process, only 2 mg of nanoparticles were used and thin layers with nanoparticles content of 20% were obtained. After the incorporation of candle soot, SiO2 and ZIF-8 in the separation layer, both the water permeation and rejection of direct red 23, reactive blue 2 and reactive orange 16 were greatly improved. Therefore, this study provides a novel and simple fabrication method for thin film composite membranes, which has advantages in incorporating nanoparticles in the thin separation layer to endow the membrane with an improved performance.